Cocoa Granola Bars Recipes

THE BEST HEALTHY CHOCOLATE GRANOLA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, almonds, cocoa powder and sea salt until evenly combined.
• In a separate mixing cup, stir together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract until combined. Pour the coconut oil mixture into the oats mixture, and stir until evenly combined.
• Spread the granola out evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Then remove from the oven, give the mixture a good stir, then sprinkle the coconut evenly on top. Bake for 5 more minutes, until the granola is lightly toasted and golden.
• Remove baking sheet from the oven and transfer to a wire baking rack. Let cool until the granola reaches room temperature. Then stir in the chocolate chips and/or any other add-ins that you prefer.
• Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

ALMOND BUTTER GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 F.
• In a medium saucepan, combine almond butter, honey, butter, and vanilla over medium-low heat. Cook and stir until smooth and until butter melts.
• In a medium bowl, combine oats, almonds, cinnamon, cocoa powder, nutmeg, and salt, and mix together. Pour liquid mixture on top and stir to combine until fully incorporated and the oats are all coated with the liquid mixture.
• Transfer mixture to a parchment-lined 9x9-inch casserole dish or baking tray and firmly press mixture into the pan using a spatula or the back of a glass. Make sure it is packed very tightly and evenly.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes (add an additional 5-10 minutes for crunchier granola bars). The granola bars are done once the edges have browned and pulled away from the sides.
• Remove parchment paper from pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Slice into 12 rectangular bars.
• Store granola bars at room temperature in an airtight container.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large pot, combine the butter, brown sugar and honey. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.
• Add the oats, rice cereal, almonds and flax meal (or wheat germ) to the pan and fold with a rubber spatula until well combined.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press down lightly with a rubber spatula to even out. Sprinkle the miniature chocolate chips over top, adding more or less to suit your taste, and press down firmly with the spatula so the chips stick.The mixture should be tightly compacted in the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 1½ - 2 hours to cool.
• Use the foil overhang to transfer the uncut bars to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into rectangles. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you have to stack them, be sure to use parchment paper or foil in between the layers, otherwise they'll stick together and fall apart.
• Note: If you are substituting dried fruit for the chocolate chips, mix it in along with the other ingredients as opposed to sprinkling over top.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The granola bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, move them to the refrigerator and store there.

COCOA-COCONUT GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
• Spread rolled oats, flax seed meal, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, and chia seeds onto a baking sheet.
• Toast oats mixture in preheated oven, stirring every 5 minutes, until lightly toasted, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Combine honey, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coconut extract, ground cinnamon, and salt together in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir cocoa powder into the honey mixture until dissolved.
• Mix toasted oat mixture and the honey mixture in a large bowl and stir until the dry ingredients are coated; spread into the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Cool bars in pan for 10 minutes, immediately cut into squares, and remove from pan.

COCOA GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Combine cereal, oats,raisins and white chocolate chips in a big bowl.
• Warm honey, brown sugar, and light corn syrup in a saucepan on the stove top, stirring to combine.
• Add peanut butter and vanilla and stir to combine then take off heat.
• Pour mixture over cereal mixture and mix well.
• Press into a 9 x 13 ungreased pan.
• Be sure to press hard into pan all over so they don't fall apart.
• Put in refrigerator for an hour to cool which makes them easier to cut.
• Cut into 15 bars and enjoy.
• You may also wrap in wax paper and freeze.